The collaboration combines artificial intelligence imaging of the eye with blood-based RNA biomarkers to identify patients at risk.
Circular Genomics and Vitazi.ai have announced a strategic alliance to develop a multimodal workflow for the early detection and risk stratification of Alzheimer’s disease. The collaboration establishes a diagnostic architecture intended to address market gaps in early-stage patient identification, according to a press release from Circular Genomics.
The partnership will integrate Vitazi.ai’s non-invasive artificial intelligence (AI)-driven retinal imaging analytics with Circular Genomics’ proprietary circular RNA (circRNA) biomarker data. The companies intend to use shared algorithmic and machine learning workflows to provide early detection and risk stratification for the disease.
The proposed diagnostic process involves a two-step clinical workflow designed for integration into existing care pathways. The first step involves AI-driven retinal triage conducted in optometry or primary care settings to identify individuals at elevated risk. The second step uses blood-based detection of brain-derived circRNA biomarkers to confirm early disease biology and pathology.
“This collaboration represents a transformative step in how we scale early Alzheimer’s detection and expand the commercial and strategic reach of our circRNA platform,” says Paul Sargeant, PhD, CEO of Circular Genomics, in a release. “Our circRNA technology provides a systems-level view of Alzheimer’s disease biology capable of detecting molecular changes upstream of traditional protein biomarkers.”
The collaboration will initially focus on the development of multimodal machine learning models that combine retinal imaging data with blood biomarker profiles. Vitazi.ai’s oculomics platform uses retinal imaging as a non-invasive window into systemic and neurological health, enabling clinicians to play an expanded role in preventive care.
“The retina provides a unique, non-invasive lens into neurological and vascular health, while circRNA offers deep molecular insight into disease pathways,” says Jeremy Stueven, MD, CEO of Vitazi.ai, in a release. “Together, we could create a scalable, clinically meaningful solution that empowers providers to detect disease earlier and intervene more effectively delivering value across the care continuum.”
Circular RNA biomarkers are utilized for neurodegenerative disease applications because of their stability, enrichment in brain tissue, and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Unlike single-analyte protein biomarkers, circRNAs allow for a pathway-level understanding of disease biology, which may better capture the complexity of Alzheimer’s disease, according to the companies.
“This approach represents a fundamental advancement in how we model and measure neurodegenerative disease biology, with implications that extend well beyond Alzheimer’s to the broader landscape of precision neurology,” says Nikolaos Mellios, MD, PhD, chief scientific officer and co-founder of Circular Genomics, in a release.
ID 119821073 © Anton Chervov | Dreamstime.com
